Clark County Public Library Expands To Meet the Needs of a Growing Community
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The building that houses Clark County Public Library opened only 10 years ago, yet it has already undergone an expansion.
The new wing is called the Lynne A. Boxley Library for Young People, and it opened in May 2008. The one-story children’s library addition is specifically earmarked for kids from the ages of birth through eighth grade.
“The children’s room in our current existing library could only seat 35 for any event, and we often have 75 children enrolled in our individual programs,” says Julie Maruskin, director of the Clark County Public Library. “The new Boxley wing has seating for 85 in one of its meeting rooms, which is ideal.”
Maruskin says the reason for such an expansion is simple – the community has been using the library in large numbers ever since it opened in 1998.
“In 1998, we circulated 165,000 items out of here, and nowadays, our patrons borrow more than 315,000 items each year,” she says. “We have seen this need for expansion for quite some time, so back in 2001, our board actually started planning for growth so we will never run out of room.”
Clark County Public Library is one of eight libraries in the state that received funding to expand in 2007, via a grant process from the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives. Amenities at the new Library for Young People include an amphitheater with a central fountain.
“The interior colors of the children’s library are pale yellows, calming blues and turquoises, which studies show are excellent for learning environments because the children will better absorb what they are reading,” Maruskin says. “The colors are child-friendly and
also help them concentrate better. The expansion has been well thought out.
I believe the community will be pleased with the end result.”
Story by Kevin Litwin
Photo by JCM
